House of Cards (Radiohead song)

Last updated

"House of Cards"
Houseofcardsbodysnatchers.jpg
Promotional single by Radiohead
from the album In Rainbows
A-side "Bodysnatchers"
ReleasedApril 6, 2008 (radio)
Recorded2005–2007
Genre Art rock
Length5:28
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nigel Godrich
Music video
"House of Cards" on YouTube

"House of Cards" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, from their seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007). It was serviced to American modern rock radio on April 6, 2008 as a promotional single.

Contents

The music video, directed by James Frost, was produced using lidar technology and released in June 2008. "House of Cards" was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song and Best Music Video.

Writing

Music video

The music video, directed by James Frost, was produced in a minimal set in Florida. It features rendered images of Yorke's face as well as those of several other people, interspersed with images of suburban landscapes and people attending a party. [6] In lieu of traditional cameras, the video was made with lidar technology, which detects the proximity of objects from the sensor. [7]

The lidar gives the video a grainy, grid-like appearance. [7] The filmmakers passed sheets of acrylic glass and mirrors through the lasers to create scenes in which the image appears distorted, partially disappears, or disintegrate as if being carried by wind. [7] The data used to make the video was released as open source under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 license and is available at Google Code as both CSV raw data and Processing code. [8] [9]

Release

"House of Cards" was released on Radiohead's seventh album, In Rainbows (2007). Along with another song, "Bodysnatchers", it was serviced to American modern rock radio on April 6, 2008, as a promotional single.[ citation needed ] At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song and Best Music Video. [10] A performance of "House of Cards" was included on the 2008 live video In Rainbows – From the Basement . [11]

Personnel

Adapted from the In Rainbows liner notes. [12]

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [13] 24

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [14] Gold40,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United States [15] April 6, 2008 Modern rock radio ATO, TBD

Related Research Articles

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. They comprise Thom Yorke ; brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien ; and Philip Selway. They have worked with producer Nigel Godrich and cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

<i>Hail to the Thief</i> 2003 studio album by Radiohead

Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released on 9 June 2003 through Parlophone internationally and a day later through Capitol Records in the United States. It was the last album released under Radiohead's record contract with EMI, the parent company of Parlophone and Capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician (born 1968)

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Godrich</span> English record producer

Nigel Timothy Godrich is an English record producer, recording engineer and musician. He has worked with acts including Radiohead, Travis, Beck, Air, Paul McCartney, U2, R.E.M., Pavement, Roger Waters and Arcade Fire.

<i>The Eraser</i> 2006 studio album by Thom Yorke

The Eraser is the debut solo album by the English musician Thom Yorke, released on 10 July 2006 through XL Recordings. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, the longtime producer for Yorke's band Radiohead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There There</span> 2003 single by Radiohead

"There There" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released as the lead single from their sixth album, Hail to the Thief (2003), on 21 May 2003. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Canada and Portugal, and number 14 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song appears on Radiohead: The Best Of (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nude (song)</span> 2008 single by Radiohead

"Nude" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released in March 2008 as the second single from their seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007).

<i>In Rainbows</i> 2007 studio album by Radiohead

In Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was self-released on 10 October 2007 as a pay-what-you-want download, followed by a physical release internationally through XL Recordings on 3 December 2007 and in North America through TBD Records on 1 January 2008. It was Radiohead's first release after their recording contract with EMI ended with their album Hail to the Thief (2003).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Need (Radiohead song)</span> 2008 song by Radiohead

"All I Need" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, produced by Nigel Godrich. It was released as a promotional single on 5 January 2009, from their seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007). "All I Need" is a downbeat track which sees frontman Thom Yorke singing of obsession and unrequited love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reckoner</span> 2007 song by Radiohead

"Reckoner" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007). It was produced by Nigel Godrich and developed while Radiohead were working on another song, "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jigsaw Falling into Place</span> 2008 single by Radiohead

"Jigsaw Falling into Place" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, produced by Nigel Godrich. It was released as the lead single from Radiohead's seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007), on 14 January 2008. The music video, directed by Garth Jennings and Adam Buxton, features Radiohead performing in their studio with cameras attached to bicycle helmets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodysnatchers (song)</span> 2007 song by Radiohead

"Bodysnatchers" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, from their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007). In May 2008, it was released with the song "House of Cards" as a promotional single in the United Kingdom, and it was serviced to United States modern rock radio by ATO Records. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, Radiohead's highest placement since "Creep" in 1993.

<i>Radiohead: The Best Of</i> 2008 compilation album by Radiohead

Radiohead: The Best Of is a greatest hits album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released on 2 June 2008 by Parlophone Records in the UK and by Capitol Records in the US, subsidiaries of EMI. It contains songs from Radiohead's first six albums, recorded while they were under contract with EMI.

<i>In Rainbows – From the Basement</i> 2008 video by Radiohead

In Rainbows – From the Basement is a 2008 live video by the English rock band Radiohead. It features performances of ten songs from Radiohead's seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), plus four older songs.

James Frost is an English music video, commercial, and film director.

<i>The King of Limbs</i> 2011 studio album by Radiohead

The King of Limbs is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was self-released on 18 February 2011 as a download, followed by a physical release on 28 March through XL Recordings internationally and TBD Records in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus Flower (song)</span> Song by Radiohead

"Lotus Flower" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on their eighth studio album, The King of Limbs (2011). It features Thom Yorke's falsetto over syncopated beats and a synthesiser bassline. Its music video, featuring Yorke's erratic dancing, attracted millions of views and inspired an internet meme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burn the Witch (Radiohead song)</span> 2016 single by Radiohead

"Burn the Witch" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, the lead single from their ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). It features a string section playing with guitar plectrums, producing a percussive sound. Radiohead first worked on the song during the sessions for their fourth album, Kid A (2000), and developed it for over a decade.

"15 Step" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the opening track on their seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007). Produced by Nigel Godrich, the song was written in 2005 during a "mad rhythm experiment". The song received acclaim from music critics, who praised its blend of electronic and rock elements.

References

  1. Randall, Mac (1 February 2012). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story Updated Edition. Backbeat Books. ISBN   9781458471475.
  2. 1 2 "Radiohead". Pitchfork . 28 March 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  3. Kent, Nick (1 August 2006). "Ghost in the Machine". Mojo . EMAP. pp. 74–77.
  4. Binelli, Mark (7 February 2008). "The Future According to Radiohead". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  5. Gregory, Jason. "Thom Yorke Criticises George Bush In Special TV Appearance | Gigwise". gigwise.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. "Radiohead make new video – without cameras". NME . London. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 Nye, Calley (14 July 2008). "Radiohead Partners With Google For Music Video Launch". The Washington Post . Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  8. Chacksfield, Marc (17 July 2008). "Radiohead embrace open source". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  9. Steuer, Eric (14 July 2008). "Radiohead's 'House of Cards' video data published under Creative Commons license". Creative Commons . Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  10. "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  11. "Revisiting Radiohead's In Rainbows: From the Basement". Far Out Magazine . 26 June 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  12. In Rainbows (liner notes). Radiohead. XL Recordings. 2007. XLCD 324.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Radiohead Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  14. "Canadian single certifications – Radiohead – House of Cards". Music Canada . Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. "R&R Going For Adds: Alternative (Week Of: April 6, 2008)". Radio & Records . Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2013.